Thatched-roofed pubs face insurance dilemma

by Richard Matthews The escalating cost of insurance cover has now hit licensees running pubs with thatched roofs. One says the cost of his insurance is now three times its previous level, while another said he could only get cover if the thatch was treated with a flame-retardant substance. But experts say thatched roofed pubs were not being specifically targeted, and licensees should continue to shop around for the best cover. Ralph Laporte, associate director at trade insurance specialists Marsh, said licensees generally were being hit by increased premiums ­ but certainly not specifically because of thatched roofs. "Some companies have decided to not cover for thatched roofs in the same way that some won't touch pubs that are prone to flooding, and obviously when licensees turn to other companies they could find their premiums have risen sharply compared to what they were paying before. "There are guidelines applying to thatched pubs, however, and licensees have to ensure they comply with them," said Laporte. "Most of these are commonsense and are related to reducing the risk of fire. Chimneys have to be a good state of repair, electrical equipment needs to be inspected and tested on a regular basis, and companies may want to see fire blankets made available or spark arresters fitted to open fires to prevent fire breaking out. "I don't think anyone wants to spoil the ambience of a thatched pub with a welcoming log fire by imposing conditions which would be impossible to meet," he added. Charles Lidford, of the 15th-Century thatched Cock pub at Brent Eleigh in Suffolk complained that his insurance had risen from £700 to £2,400 a year. At a neighbouring pub, the Cock at Lavenham, staff said they were prevented from having open fires by the terms on the insurance cover. Reducing the fire risk Tenant Ben Salter, whose company Brakspears has just replaced the 20-year-old thatched roof at the Six Bells at Warborough, Oxfordshire, said he was surprised that insurers had not insisted on the use of flame-resistant materials for the re-thatching. "We reduce the fire risk by having a fire-resistant curtain which slides in front of our log fire when we are not around, and this prevents sparks setting fire to anything. We also have a high pressure water hose handy. "Our insurers are happy with these measures and we certainly haven't been hit by increased premiums," he said. Honeycombe Leisure, which operates some thatched pubs in its estate, said its insurance rates were set on a group basis and not individually, but that insurers insisted thatches were treated with a fire-retardant agent.